Stabbing causes chaos on Toronto subway as passengers flee violent altercation
A stabbing on a moving subway train caused chaos in Toronto on Thursday afternoon as passengers ran from the violent altercation.
A man in his thirties was seriously injured in the stabbing. He was rushed to a nearby trauma center. Later on Thursday, his condition was upgraded to stable.
His assailant, a man, is still a fugitive and is wanted for attempted murder.
In a press release late Thursday, Toronto police said they were called to Eglinton station, near Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue West, around 12:20 p.m.
According to police, two men were on a southbound train heading to Eglinton station when they got into an argument.
“The suspect then stabbed the victim several times,” the police said in the press release.
When the train stopped at the station, the attacker fled, police said.
Police described the suspect as 25 to 30 years old, 5ft 7in tall, slim build, head shaved and no facial hair. He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt with “GAP” written on the front, black pants, black shoes and was carrying a green backpack.
Police have released images of the man.
Duty Insp. Toronto Police Service spokesperson Michelle Olszevski told reporters outside the agency that 53 Division Police and Forensic Identification Service officers, with the help of TTC security, are investigating and reviewing security camera footage.
She said police are aware of a video circulating on social media of the incident.
The video shows two men kicking and punching each other. At one point, blood can be seen seeping through a man’s shirt. That man then runs screaming to one end of the train while the other man chases after him.
Subway riders, meanwhile, run to the other end of the train. Blood is visible on the subway floor.
A rider says, “He stabs him” and “He kills him.” Another says, “I can’t get off the train.”
The man who stabbed the other can be seen at the end of the video walking on the subway platform after the train pulls into the station.
WARNING | This report from CBC’s Greg Ross contains disturbing images:
Toronto police say a man was injured in a stabbing attack on a TTC subway car Thursday afternoon. The suspect is still in custody. Greg Ross provides a crime scene update.
Olszevski said many witnesses have spoken to police and anyone who has video or witnessed the stabbing is urged to come forward.
She said police are concerned about security at the TTC.
“I can tell you that the Toronto Police Service is committed to the safety of all citizens across the agency, including those who ride the TTC. And while TTC security is primarily responsible for the security of the transportation system, we support we monitor them and respond to all calls for service and emergencies on the transit system,” she said.
Police patrol the transit system on their regular shifts and take passenger safety very seriously, she added.
The TTC bypassed Eglinton station for hours, and service resumed shortly after 8 p.m., and the stabbing halted Line 1 service between Lawrence and Davisville stations. Shuttle buses replaced subways while police investigated.
All bus services at Eglinton station were diverted to St. Clair station, but regular bus service at Eglinton has resumed.
TTC says violence on its property ‘unacceptable’
Stuart Green, spokesman for the TTC, said the transit agency learned Thursday afternoon that a stabbing victim had been located at Eglinton station.
“Our thoughts are with the victim at this uncertain time,” said Green.
“The safety of our customers and employees is paramount in everything we do. While we do not have more information, incidents of violence on TTC property are unacceptable and of great concern.”
Green said the TTC helped police investigate the stabbing.
He added that the TTC has invested in additional safety and security measures and has formed partnerships with the city, police, community aid and crisis response officials because it considers safety a priority.
“It was just very confusing,” the rider says of the aftermath
Saya Sedighi, a University of Toronto master’s student in the department of molecular genetics, said she entered the Eglinton station around 12:20 a.m. and went downstairs to board a southbound train for downtown.
“Once the door opened, a lot of people ran out,” she said.
“We tried to get in and then people outside were yelling, ‘Don’t come in, someone’s got something,’ but we didn’t really hear it well because on the TTC it’s really hard to hear what people are saying in the loudspeakers.” she added.
“And then we all ran out and we thought everything was settled. We just waited for the train to start moving and then we rushed back in and we ran out again. It was just very confusing because we weren’t sure what was going on.”
Then some transit riders said someone had been stabbed, she said,
Sedighi said transit drivers weren’t sure what was going on until police and paramedics arrived. The police told the transit drivers that the station had to be evacuated. There were no tweets from police or TTC for at least 15 minutes, she added.
“There weren’t really clear instructions on how or when or which shuttle buses to take or what exactly happens,” she said.
Violent incidents on TTC ‘very scary’ says rider
Sedighi said she takes the TTC twice a day and violent incidents are “really scary.”
“Honestly, it makes me feel like TTC is actually not as accessible as people think,” she said.
“It’s either you live one more day, or you get stabbed on TTC, or you get a car, and it’s not that easy. It makes me feel like TTC is actually not that safe anymore and they’re not do something about it.”
Anyone who witnessed the stabbing or has information relevant to the investigation is asked to contact police.
